Marine line holder

ABSTRACT

A unitary device for adjustably retaining or holding a knotted line to a marine craft or the like, having a shallowly tapered, generally cylindrical knot receiving and clamping channel which is provided with means for affixing the channel to the marine craft, having outwardly diverging ears to guide entry of the line therein.

United States Patent McFarlane [451 Mar. 21, 1972 i [541 MARINE LINEHOLDER [72] Inventor: Bob B. McFarlane, 5816 24th Avenue N.W., Seattle,Wash. 98107 [22] Filed: Nov. 4, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 873,838

1,571,564 2/1926 Walliser.... 2,579,689 12/1951 Miller 3,286,680 11/1966Caretta ..114 219 3,473,505 10/1969 Brown ..ll4/2l8X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 21,740 10/ l 904 Great Britain ..1 14/218 102,518 l/l9l6Great Britain ..24/l28 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler AssistantExaminer-Gregory W. O'Connor AttorneyGraybeal, Cole & Barnard [57]ABSTRACT A unitary device for adjustably retaining or holding a knottedline to a marine craft or the like, having a shallowly tapered,generally cylindrical knot receiving and clamping channel which isprovided with means for affixing the channel to the marine craft, havingoutwardly diverging ears to guide entry of the line therein.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEDMARZI 1912 I 8,650,236

W km flffdp s MARINE LINE HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field ofthe Invention This invention relates in general to a device forfastening a knotted line to a marine craft, and in particular, to adevice for detachably retaining or holding a knotted fender line in amanner so that the fender may be quickly and easily raised or lowered asa one-handed operation while the boat is being maneuvered alongside apotentially damaging structure, such as during docking.

2. Description of the Prior Art In both fresh and salt water boating,the basic problem of protecting the hull of the craft from damagingcontact with a pier or dock upon landing is encountered. The mostpopular solution to this problem is the positioning of generallycylindrical rubber or soft plastic fenders at the point of contactbetween the hull and the pier. These fenders are conventionally hungfrom the sides of the marine craft on lines which are attached to cleatsfixed to the craft itself. The point of contact between the pier and thehull of the craft may be different for every pier, and for any one pierwill vary with the rise or fall of the water level due to the tides orany other reason. The length of the fender line must, therefore, befrequently adjusted to keep the fender at the point of contact betweenthe stationary structure and the hull.

Conventional horned cleats require tying of the fender line thereto, andthus adjustment of the length of this line requires untying and retying,a procedure which is both time consuming and troublesome particularlywhen the line is wet or taut. Additionally, in docking a small craft, ahelmsman may have but one free hand to adjust a fender to prevent damageto the craft, a feat which is very difficult using the horned cleat.

One proposed solution to this problem is found in Winther, U.S. Pat. No.2,870,733 which discloses a double recessed cleat body having arotatable central post and locking plate for securing a looped line.

Cam cleats are also known in the art as will be seen from Hume, U.S.Pat. No. 3,265,032 which discloses a base having a pair of cam elementspivoted on the base on pins for movement toward or away from each other.Both the Winther and Hume cleats consist of a plurality of movable partsand thus are relatively difficult to manipulate, are relativelyexpensive to build and require a degree of maintenance to keep operable,particularly when used in salt water.

Cord holding devices such as those disclosed in Miller, U.S. Pat. No.2,579,689 and Roussel, U.S. Pat. No. 879,591 are also known, but besidesbeing of a construction significantly different from the presentinvention, they deal with the unrelated problem of packaging articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of my invention to provide aline holder in fixed position on a marine craft whereby a line may befirmly fastened thereto and yet easily adjustable lengthwise therein.

It'is another object of my invention to provide a line holder which doesnot require tying of the line thereto and which may be operated with onehand.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a line holder whichhas no moving parts and is thus inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a line holder for usewith a fender line having a plurality of knots spaced along its length.

One more object of my invention is provided a line holder having amounting means associated therewith whereby it may be mounted at anangle with respect to the mounting surface.

And another object of my invention is to provide a line holder for usewith a line having a plurality of knots spaced thereon such that theline is fastened thereto by running the line therethrough in onedirection until a knot is clamped therein, and unfastened by retractingthe line until the knot is freed therefrom.

Other objects and advantages as well as the construction and operationof my invention in its various forms will be better understood byreference to the following description in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a line holder typifying the instantinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the line holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, including a knottedline entering and seated therein;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the line holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side elevation view of the line holder, togetherwith an integralmounting means and conventional fasteners, shown mountedon a vertical railing support;

FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective view of the line holder showing amodified form of mounting means;

FIG. 7 illustrates typical use of the line holder in connection with therailing of 'a marine craft; and

FIG. 8 illustrates typical use of the line holder to hold a fenderdisposed between the hull of Murine craft and a pier.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,and particularly to FIGS. 1-4, line holder 10 is shown comprising aunitary element curved to form a longitudinally tapered channel. Lineholder 10 includes rear portion 12 and side portions 14 and 16. Rearportion 12 is slightly tapered along its length such that the topportion thereof is wider than the bottom portion. As shown in FIGS. 14,rear portion 12 is relatively flat, however, it is understood that thecurvature of this portion could be increased, for example, to conform tothe surface on which it is mounted.

Side portions 14 and 16, which extend integrally from the tapered rearportion 12 are curved first forwardly and outwardly and then forwardlyand inwardly to define, in conjunction with rear portion 12, channel 18.In the disclosed embodiment, the curvature of the two side portions arerelated such that the side portions are mirror images of each other. Asis best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, curved sides 14 and 16 are also taperedalong their length such that the top portion thereof is wider than thebottom portion. The forward and inward curvature of the tapered sideportions is limited so that the corresponding inward extending edges 20and 22 (FIG. 2) of the side portions are spaced apart at every point.The tapers of the rear and side portions additionally cause the spacingbetween the inward edges 20 and 22 of the side portions 14 and 16 tovary along their length thus defining slot 24. Thus it will be seen thatthe curved and tapered side portions and the tapered rear portioncombine to form a hollow tapered cylinder having a tapered slot 24extending the length thereof.

In the disclosed embodiments, outwardly diverging cars 26 and 28 areprovided integrally connected to side portions 14 and 16 along a portionof inward edges 20 and 22 to assist in guiding a line into the channel18. In other embodiments not disclosed in the accompanying drawings,outwardly diverging line guiding ears are not provided.

The disclosed line holder may be constructed of stainless steel, chromebrass or any other suitable material including plastic. It is alsocontemplated that the associated knotted line may be made of plastic.

The line holder of FIGS. 1-4 may be connected to a marine craft byconventional screws or bolts which may be inserted in holes 30 and 32disposed in rear portion 12. If desired, a lug may be associated withrear portion 12 and extended normally therefrom, or at an angle theretosuch as lugs 34 and 36 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, to move holder 10 awayfrom the surface of the marine craft on which it is to be mounted.Extension of the holder from the mounting surface may lead to easieradjustment of the fender line as will be discussed more completelybelow.

FIG. 5 discloses an additional embodiment typifying the presentinvention including lug 34 which is integrally connected to rear portion12 of the line holder. The configuration of some marine craft may makeit desirable to have the line holder 10 connected thereto such that itis disposed at an angle with respect to the mounting surface. FIG. 8illustrates such a situation. In FIG. 8, holder 10, having angularmounting lug 38 associated therewith, is shown mounted on the outside ofcockpit wall 40. Side deck 42 extends normally from wall 40, and thuswhen a fender 44 having knotted line 46 connected thereto is desired tobe interposed between pier 48 and hull rail 50, angular mounting bracketor lug 38 allows line 46 to extend from channel 18 of holder 10 atapproximately the angle necessary for the line to extend over the sidedeck. Thus when the marine craft moves with respect to the pier therebysqueezing the fender therebetween and possibly placing line 46 intension, the angular mount reduces the component of force which wouldotherwise act to pull line 46 outwardly through slot 24. The angularmount allows all of the tension force in the line to be bornesubstantially equally by the rear and side walls of channel 18, asdesired.

Returning now to FIG. 5, lug 34 includes conventional fastening meanscomprising bolts 52 and nuts 54, disposed in slots 56 thereof. FIG.illustrates holder mounted on vertical rail support 58 of substantiallycircular cross section. To improve the stability of this mount, lug 34is provided with saddle 60 which is curved to conform to the outersurface of rail support 58. Lugs having various curved surfaces may beprovided to conform to other mounting surfaces.

In FIG. 6, line holder 10 is shown mounted at an angle different fromthat of FIG. 5 with respect to mounting surface 62. It is understoodthat the angular mounts disclosed are shown by way of example and notlimitation, and that any other angles may be used ifdesired.

FIG. 6 further discloses adapter bracket 64 used in conjunction with lug36. Bracket 64 is mounted by means of conventional fasteners such asscrew 66, and lug 36 is in turn mounted thereon by means of the bolts68; Adapter bracket 64 may thus be permanently mounted, while variousfasteners of differing size or angle may be interchangeably mountedthereon.

Although not disclosed in the drawings, it is also recognized that auniversal joint might be associated with a mounted bracket which wouldthereby allow a fixture mounted thereon to pivot in response to the pullof the fender line fastened therein.

As may be seen with reference to FIG. 3, in operation a line 70. (shownin dotted line) having a series of knots 72 spaced seriatim thereon, isdisposed within channel 18, and then moved axially therethrough until aknot 72 is gripped by the tapering rear wall and sides of the channel.The relationship between the size of knot72 and the cross section ofchannel 18 is such that the knot may easily enter the top portion of thechannel but is too large to be pulled through the small opening at thebottom of the channel. It is recognized that, rather than knots, aplurality of suitably sized and shaped projections might be mounted atintervals along the fender line to accomplish the same function ofpressing against the interior walls of channel 18 to prevent the linefrom passing therethrough. This alternate line construction may beparticularly useful where a plastic line is used.

In FIG. 7, adjustment of fender 74 in line holder 10 is depicted. Lineholder 10 is shown mounted on railing support 76. This mount may be anyone of the means discussed above, or any other suitable means includingcircular metal bands, but as shown includes normally extending lug 78 tomove holder 10 away from the support 76. This spacing allows line 70 andknots 72 to be easily raised or lowered without interference fromrailing 80. As illustrated, an unknotted portion of the fender line isinserted through slot 24, and the line is then allowed to be pulled bythe weight of the fender through the holder until a knot is wedgedtherein. To raise or lower fender 74 in response, for example, to thechanging tides, the fender line is retracted from the holder until theknot which had been wedged therein is completely freed from the holder.The unknotted portion of the line is then removed from the holderthrough slot'24, and the line is raised or lowered, as

desired, until the unknotted portion of the line between a differentpair of knots is adjacent slot 24. The unknotted line may then beinserted through slot 24 and the line allowed to be pulled by the fenderthrough the holder until a different knot is wedged therein causing thefender to hang at a different level below the fixed holder. It is seenthat the fineness of adjustment is directly related to the spacing ofthe knots on the line. The weight of the fender 74 constantly acts topull the clamped knot through the bottom opening of channel 18, but thesmall cross section thereof prevents such movement, and thus the weightof the fender merely acts to seat the knot firmly in the fastener.

In one embodiment of the device for use with a line of oneeighth inchdiameter, the length of the fastener was 2% inches, and the diameter ofthe top of the line receiving channel was five-eighths inch, while thediameter of the bottom of said channel was one-fourth inch. The angle oftaper of the rear and side walls of the channel was slight, and thus theangle of taper of the channel itself was slight to provide optimumgripping of the knotted line. It is preferred that the angle of taper ofthe channel be between 4 and 10, but in some embodiments this angle maybe somewhat smaller in order to better accomplish the unique squeezingand clamping of the knot provided by this invention. As has beendiscussed more completely above, it is this squeezing and clampingaction which prevents undesirable disconnection of the knot from theholder during use.

It will thus be seen that line holders constructed for use with lines oflarger diameter have cylindrical channels of proportionately largerdiameter, but substantially the same slight taper.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that further variations in form,proportion and details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A marine line holder fixedly mountable on a marine craft for holdinga hanging line having a plurality of serially spaced enlargementsthereon, said holder comprising a longitudinally tapered rear portion,longitudinally tapered sides integrally connected thereto and extendingforwardly and outwardly and then forwardly and inwardly to define aslotted, tapered clamping channel, and mounting means associated withsaid rear portion for rigidly connecting said marine line holder to saidmarine craft with said tapered sides converging, wherein said mountingmeans comprises a lug extending from said rear portion, said lug havingan axial opening therein, and fastener means extending through saidaxial opening.

2. In combination with a marine craft, an assembly for ad justablyretaining a hanging fender line or the like in position on the marinecraft, comprising: a longitudinally slotted and tapered channel sized toreceive unenlarged portions of said line; a line connectable to thefender or the like and having a plurality of enlargements spaced alongits length, one of said enlargements being wedged and held in saidlongitudinally tapered channel; and mounting means rigidly attachingsaid tapered channel to said craft with said channel oriented small enddown.

3. The combination comprising a marine craft, a hanging marine line withspaced enlarged portions, a marine line holder having a slotted,longitudinally tapered channel, and means rigidly attaching said marineline holder to said marine craft with the small end of said channellower than the large end thereof, the size and taper of said channelbeing such that an unenlarged portion of said line passes freelytherethrough while an enlarged portion thereof passes only partiallytherethrough.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the taper of the channel of themarine line holder is between 4 and 10.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the integral side portions of themarine line holder include diverging ears for guiding said line intosaid channel.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein the means attaching said marineline holder to said marine craft comprises bracket means having an axialopening therein, extending outwardly from said channel, and fastenermeans extending through said axial opening.

7. A marine line holder for holding a knotted hanging line to a marinecraft comprising an open ended tapered cylinder having a slot extendingthe length thereof to receive unknotted portions of said hanging line,said tapered cylinder having a large end opening sized to receive theline knots and a constricted portion sized to receive said line but toosmall for the line knots to pass therethrough, and mounting meansrigidly attaching said marine line holder to the marine craft with theconstricted portion of said cylinder below the large end thereof.

8. The marine line holder of claim 7 wherein the open ended taperedcylinder includes a relatively flat rear portion opposite said slot.

9. A marine line holder fixedly mountable on a marine craft for holdinga hanging line having a plurality of serially spaced enlargementsthereon, said holder comprising a longitudinally tapered rear portion,longitudinally tapered sides integrally connected thereto and extendingforwardly and outwardly and then forwardly and inwardly to define aslotted, tapered clamping channel, and mounting means associated withsaid rear portion for rigidly connecting said marine line holder to saidmarine craft, wherein said mounting means attaches said holder to themarine craft in an attitude wherein the tapered sides convergedownwardly.

1. A marine line holder fixedly mountable on a marine craft for holding a hanging line having a plurality of serially spaced enlargements thereon, said holder comprising a longitudinally tapered rear portion, longitudinally tapered sides integrally connected thereto and extending forwardly and outwardly and then forwardly and inwardly to define a slotted, tapered clamping channel, and mounting means associated with said rear portion for rigidly connecting said marine line holder to said marine craft with said tapered sides converging, wherein said mounting means comprises a lug extending from said rear portion, said lug having an axial opening therein, and fastener means extending through said axial opening.
 2. In combination with a marine craft, an assembly for adjustably retaining a hanging fender line or the like in position on the marine craft, comprising: a longitudinally slotted and tapered channel sized to receive unenlarged portions of said line; a line connectable to the fender or the like and having a plurality of enlargements spaced along its length, one of said enlargements being wedged and held in said longitudinally tapered channel; and mounting means rigidly attaching said tapered channel to said craft with said channel oriented small end down.
 3. The combination comprising a marine craft, a hanging marine line with spaced enlarged portions, a marine line holder having a slotted, longitudinally tapered channel, and means rigidly attaching said marine line holder to said marine craft with the small end of said channel lower than the large end thereof, the size and taper of said channel being such that an unenlarged portion of said line passes freely therethrough while an enlarged portion thereof passes only partially therethrough.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the taper of the channel of the marine line holder is between 4 and 10*.
 5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the integral side portions of the marine line holder include diverging ears for guiding said line into said channel.
 6. The combination of claim 3 wherein the means attaching said marine line holder to said marine craft comprises bracket means having an axial opening therein, extending outwardly from said channel, and fastener means extending through said axial opening.
 7. A marine line holder for holding a knotted hanging line to a marine craft comprising an open ended tapered cylinder having a slot extending the length thereof to receive unknotted portions of said hanging line, said tapered cylinder having a large end opening sized to receive the line knots and a constricted portion sized to receive said line but too small for the line knots to pass therethrough, and mounting means rigidly attaching said marine line holder to the marine craft with the constricted portion of said cylinder below the large end thereof.
 8. The marine line holder of claim 7 wherein the open ended tapered cylinder includes a relatively flat rear portion opposite said slot.
 9. A marine line holder fixedly mountable on a marine craft for holding a hanging line having a plurality of serially spaced enlargements thereon, said holder comprising a longitudinally tapered rear portion, longitudinally tapered sides integrally connected thereto and extending forwardly and outwardly and then forwardly and inwardly to define a slotted, tapered clamping channel, and mounting means associated with said rear portion for rigidly connecting said marine line holder to said marine craft, wherein said mounting means attaches said holder to the marine craft in an attitude wherein the tapered sides converge downwardly. 